Question re: Win 7 Reinstall to new HD on Gateway Desktop

savmom · 03 Mar 2016

Sorry to keep asking stupid noob type questions. I hate beating a dead horse....pesky people are my pet peeve!!!

uuuuuhhhhhhh Homer kill pests

so I am trying very hard not to be one myself

That being said, after some awesome advice from another member, I purchased a new drive for my Gateway DX4870 desktop and it will be here as soon as the usps truck arrives later this morning

I was searching around the Acer forum (Acer/Gateway are combined now I think?

) and found a couple '14 threads where people utilized the Gateway recovery discs to reinstall the WIN7 OS on a brand new blank hd in their desktops.

Wondering if I can do the same thing? Basically use the Gateway recovery dvd's I created at startup to install the same OS. I know the Acer OS is full of junk/stuff I don't NEED but I don't mind removing it later on.

If this is an option, do I have to do any formatting of the HD before using it? It's a WD WD1003FZEX, if that makes any difference.

If using the recovery media is possible, it would avoid some seriously nerve-wracking technical stuff on my part and I'm completely freaked that I will do something wrong using the cloning software mentioned here/there and my current hd is about to visit the big hard drive resting grounds in the sky.

Totally irrelevant to this thread but a little info that might shed light on my reservations with this techie stuff: I'm an extremely-exhausted, pushing-50, work-from-home-mama with disabled dh AND dd, so my mind is overwhelmed with caring for them, trying to work to pay the bills/insurance, coordinating appointments/testing/procedures ...... well I'm sure you get the idea

and occasionally

Now if anyone thinks using the recovery dvd's will cause problems, I will try to figure out one of the other methods in the tutorials (dl'ing anything is pretty much not happenin' due to the new restrictions from our wonderful

ISP who decided that since they are the only internet provider here, they would implement a generous

monthly cap which means no more netflix, hulu, etc

)

I appreciate any advice/help/or good old

torchwood · 03 Mar 2016

Hi Savmom,
Based on you comment re your ISP.
If you use the reinstall disks >> your back to PLAIN W7, NO SP1.
None of your own stuff either, back your docs/pics etc to a USB.

THAT means LOTS of downloading, your best bet is to clone.

Roy

AddRAM · 03 Mar 2016

I don`t see why it wouldn`t work, that`s what they are for.

As long as you don`t change the motherboard they should work fine.

There`s only 2 methods, well make that 3, I don`t even consider cloning, too many bad things can happen.

Use the recovery discs (OK)

Clean install windows (better)

Use a disk image you should have created already (easiest and fastest)

Macrium Reflect Free

savmom · 03 Mar 2016

How would I go about doing a Clean Install of Windows? From a link here on the forum? Or via a purchased disk?

Thanks for the replies, I sure appreciate your advice :)

AddRAM · 03 Mar 2016

Yes you need an install dvd.

a clean install is easy :)

Clean Install Windows 7

But you need an activation key.

Do you have a COA ? What version of windows is on it ?

torchwood · 03 Mar 2016

As you have a desktop, you should have got a set of Disks from Gateway when you bought it.
If you use them it should auto activate.

Roy

savmom · 03 Mar 2016

AddRAM said:

Yes you need an install dvd.

a clean install is easy :)

Clean Install Windows 7

But you need an activation key.

Do you have a COA ? What version of windows is on it ?

Sorry for the delay in replying, I couldn't get online until now :P

I have the little COA sticker with the 25-number/letter thing.

From my system info: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit SP1

Where would I get a disc, from Amazon or Newegg or some place like that?

As you have a desktop, you should have got a set of Disks from Gateway when you bought it.
If you use them it should auto activate.

Roy

I did create a set of recovery discs yesterday, there were three of them. I created a set when I initially got the computer 3 years ago & used those to reinstall the OS when I got a weird BSOD but I could not find dvd #1 so I made new ones.

It also created a disc labeled Windows 7 64-bit repair disc. Would I need to use that somehow?

Thanks for your help!

EDITED TO ASK:

If someone I know has a Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit for refurbished pc, can that be used to install Windows on my 64 bit system?

AddRAM · 03 Mar 2016

You would only use that disc to do a restore from a disk image or to run startup repair, etc.

You can use this website to download an iso file of the windows 7 version you need, either 32 or 64 bit.

Download Windows 7 ISOs, Legally and for Free | PCsteps.com

Microsoft DigitalRiver Mirror

Then you burn that file to dvd, with a simple program like this. At the slowest possible speed.

Free ISO Burner

If you have a COA with a readable code you do not have to buy windows again. You are entitled to install the version that`s on that COA.

savmom · 03 Mar 2016

How do I know which iso to use? I see several for Home Premium 64-bit.

A friend is going to let me downlaod anything I need at her house (no cap lol) so I can go dl whatever you say I need tonight.

And thank you SO SO SO SO SO SO Much for being so patient & helpful. I'm about to go crazy over this stuff :P

AddRAM · 03 Mar 2016

You download the version that`s listed on your COA Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit SP1

X17-58997.iso